Please Help Me Get My Service Dog
Donation protected
In 2010, I was diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope, or NCS. For years, I had been passing out and having non-epileptic seizures for no apparent reason. After an overnight hospital stay, and several more episodes, the doctors still did not know what was wrong with me. Everything kept coming back "normal", but the episodes kept occuring with more and more frequency.
In 2010, I went through a tilt-table test. During the test, I passed out, and began seizing. The results of the test indicated NCS.
"Neurocardiogenic syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness associated with a drop in arterial blood pressure, quickly followed by a slowed heart rate (Grubb & McMann, 2001, p. 133)"
Following the diagnosis, I began to "treat" the condition as best as I could, which essentially meant increasing my salt intake, drinking more fluids, and making sure I was well rested.
We recently adopted a Siberian Husky named Gaia, and one morning, she began whining, and staring at me, while spinning in circles with her tail tucked. I though she needed to go to the bathroom, so I stood up to grab her leash, and passed out. I was alone at the time, and woke up to Gaia licking my face.
Medical alert dogs are born with the innate ability to sense minute changes in body chemistry. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Gaia had been trying to tell me that something was wrong. If I had known, I could have most likely prevented the episode.
In addition to the NCS, I also suffer from extreme anxiety, and have a tendency to get easily overwhelmed in busy public places. Most of the time, my husband is with me, and grabs my hand when I'm getting overwhelmed, which is usually enough to "ground" me, and prevent a full-blown panic attack. Without him though, I refuse to go anywhere other than work on my own. The thought of it terrifies me.
Since Gaia already has the ability to sense changes in blood pressure, we have decided to train her as my service dog/medical alert dog. (Edit: As of 03/15/15, we have decided to pull Gaia from Public Access work, and are in the process of purchasing a dog from a breeder, who is temperament testing for my needs)
Applying for a different service dog is nearly impossible, as most professionally trained dogs have waiting lists of over a year or more, and cost thousands of dollars.
I am a proud person, and hate having to ask for help. Most of my family and friends do not even know how bad things have gotten for me recently. It's not something I talk about very often, and it's incredibly embarrassing to ask for help. But truly, any amount you can contribute to helping me become a better-functioning member of society would be greatly appreciated, more than you could ever know.
In 2010, I went through a tilt-table test. During the test, I passed out, and began seizing. The results of the test indicated NCS.
"Neurocardiogenic syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness associated with a drop in arterial blood pressure, quickly followed by a slowed heart rate (Grubb & McMann, 2001, p. 133)"
Following the diagnosis, I began to "treat" the condition as best as I could, which essentially meant increasing my salt intake, drinking more fluids, and making sure I was well rested.
We recently adopted a Siberian Husky named Gaia, and one morning, she began whining, and staring at me, while spinning in circles with her tail tucked. I though she needed to go to the bathroom, so I stood up to grab her leash, and passed out. I was alone at the time, and woke up to Gaia licking my face.
Medical alert dogs are born with the innate ability to sense minute changes in body chemistry. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Gaia had been trying to tell me that something was wrong. If I had known, I could have most likely prevented the episode.
In addition to the NCS, I also suffer from extreme anxiety, and have a tendency to get easily overwhelmed in busy public places. Most of the time, my husband is with me, and grabs my hand when I'm getting overwhelmed, which is usually enough to "ground" me, and prevent a full-blown panic attack. Without him though, I refuse to go anywhere other than work on my own. The thought of it terrifies me.
Since Gaia already has the ability to sense changes in blood pressure, we have decided to train her as my service dog/medical alert dog. (Edit: As of 03/15/15, we have decided to pull Gaia from Public Access work, and are in the process of purchasing a dog from a breeder, who is temperament testing for my needs)
Applying for a different service dog is nearly impossible, as most professionally trained dogs have waiting lists of over a year or more, and cost thousands of dollars.
I am a proud person, and hate having to ask for help. Most of my family and friends do not even know how bad things have gotten for me recently. It's not something I talk about very often, and it's incredibly embarrassing to ask for help. But truly, any amount you can contribute to helping me become a better-functioning member of society would be greatly appreciated, more than you could ever know.
Organizer
Christina Gooch
Organizer
Fort Worth, TX
